US embassy cable - 04HANOI2440

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002440 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
PACOM FOR FPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, VM, DPOL 
SUBJECT:  Ambassador's September 1 Farewell Call on 
Politburo Member Phan Dien 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  During his September 1 farewell call on 
Politburo member Phan Dien, the Ambassador underlined the 
importance of 2005 in U.S.-Vietnam relations and, although 
there had been good progress over the past three years, 
stressed that much work remained in bilateral relations, 
such as in law enforcement cooperation.  In response to the 
Ambassador's question about preparations for the (early 
2006) tenth Party Congress, Dien said that the Congress 
would seek to pursue Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy 
"on a deeper level and more broadly."  In response to the 
Ambassador's question about "peaceful evolution," Dien said 
that concerns about peaceful evolution were directed towards 
officials and party members who were in danger of losing the 
respect of the people as they "learned to love money" during 
Vietnam's transformation into a market economy.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Ambassador, accompanied by Pol/C, paid a 
farewell call September 1 on Politburo member Phan Dien. 
(Note:  Dien, ranked sixth in the Politburo, is a standing 
member of the CPV Central Committee's Secretariat and bears 
responsibility for ideology-related issues.  End note.)  The 
Ambassador opened by noting the progress over the past three 
years to deepen and broaden the bilateral relationship, 
which of course happened because both the United States and 
Vietnam so desired.  Since June 2003, there had been much 
success in normalizing military-to-military relations, 
expanding humanitarian cooperation, and establishing a much 
better strategic dialogue between the two countries' 
leaders.  The United States was well aware that CPV 
leadership was critical in making decisions to advance the 
relationship, and the Ambassador congratulated Dien and his 
colleagues for the strategic vision required to do this. 
 
3. (SBU) The United States hoped to continue to normalize 
its ties with Vietnam, particularly in areas such as law 
enforcement cooperation, the Ambassador said.  We also 
needed to have more high-level visits.  2005 would be an 
important year for the relationship, and we were already 
planning major events to commemorate the tenth anniversary 
of establishing diplomatic relations, including the visit to 
the United States of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.  In fact, 
we still hoped that Dien would be able to reschedule his own 
visit to the United States.  The Embassy had been in touch 
with MFA regarding a number of actions that could ensure a 
successful visit by the PM, which we had discussed in a 
previous conversation with Dien.  The other important event 
in 2005 would be a Congressional vote on permanent normal 
trade relations as a part of Vietnam's WTO accession 
process, the Ambassador said. 
 
4. (SBU) Dien said that the Ambassador's three years in 
Vietnam were closely tied to the continuing process of 
normalizing bilateral relations, and there had been many 
great achievements.  For example, thanks to the 
contributions of the Ambassador, the WTO accession 
negotiations had been advanced.  In the area of trade and 
investment, however, the level of U.S. foreign direct 
investment was still low, but Vietnam hoped that, with the 
support of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council and others, FSI 
would increase.  Regarding political cooperation, there had 
been much improvement over the past three years, and there 
had been good visits between both countries.  Vietnam hoped 
to have good visits next year as well.  If the Prime 
Minister's visit were realized, it would be a good chance to 
push the relationship forward even more, Dien said. 
 
5. (SBU) Thanking the Ambassador for all of his 
contributions to advancing the relationship, Dien agreed 
that bilateral ties could and should be further developed. 
High-level visits were a good way to do this.  As for the 
specific issues remaining between the United States and 
Vietnam -- which the Ambassador had raised in separate 
meetings with the leadership of Vietnam -- Dien said he was 
aware of them and hoped that some recommendations "will be 
realized."  The key point was that relations between the 
United States and Vietnam had much room for improvement. 
Vietnam shared this view, and, although there had been the 
"disadvantage of history," Vietnam and the United States 
should be able to overcome this.  Dien expressed his hope 
that, during the Ambassador's time in Vietnam, he had been 
able to understand the "psychology" of the Vietnamese 
people. 
 
6. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that there was much interest 
in the United States in Vietnam's 10th Party Congress 
(scheduled for early 2006) and its ongoing preparations.  Of 
particular interest was what the Congress would mean for 
Vietnam and its bilateral relationship with the United 
States.  As the preparations moved forward, the Ambassador 
asked Dien for his thoughts on what the Congress would mean 
for the CPV's role in Vietnam, the role of a market economy, 
and the relationship between the state and private sectors. 
Dien replied that all of these issues were still under 
discussion and being "prepared," but that, broadly speaking, 
the discussions and decisions of the Congress would be based 
on twenty years of "doi moi" (renovation), particularly 
lessons learned and how to make the next ten to twenty years 
"consistent" and "integrated," Dien said. 
 
7. (SBU) Regarding the economy, Dien continued, the Congress 
would reflect Vietnam's continued commitment to the process 
of transforming into a market economy.  To do this, Vietnam 
had to develop other market components.  In terms of the 
state sector, the two most important things were the state 
sector's efficiency and Vietnam's need to mobilize all of 
society's economic resources.  On politics, Dien said that 
the Congress would work to ensure the continuing role of the 
party, the further "democratization" of society, and the 
strengthened solidarity of all the nation's people.  The 
previous (ninth) Party Congress had had important language 
regarding solidarity, and the tenth Congress would help to 
concretize this, bringing together all in society, 
regardless of religion or ethnicity, for example. 
Unfortunately, Vietnam had yet to implement well all the 
economic-related commitments of the previous Congress, and 
the upcoming conclave would be an important benchmark for 
progress in this area.  Regarding foreign policy, the tenth 
Party Congress would continue to push forward Vietnam's 
integration into the world economy.  Vietnam's policy would 
continue to be friendly relations with all nations on the 
basis of respect for independence and sovereignty.  In sum, 
the next Party Congress would seek to implement "doi moi" on 
a "deeper level and more broadly," Dien said. 
 
8. (SBU) In the United States, the Ambassador noted, during 
the presidential election season, political debate was 
lively and open for the whole world to see.  In Vietnam, as 
the Ambassador and Dien had observed during their last 
meeting, there was also much debate, but it took place 
"behind the screen."  We did sometimes pick up indicators of 
this debate, however, and heard that sometimes older, 
retired party members still had opinions about things.  In 
short, it was an interesting period, the Ambassador said. 
Dien responded that if one closely read the news, then it 
was possible to learn much. 
 
9. (SBU) Turning to the subject of "peaceful evolution," the 
Ambassador said that, now and again, it was possible to see 
in the press references to "peaceful evolution," and it 
seemed that now was another wave of emphasis on this 
subject.  In fact, there was recently an article about a 
conference for Vietnam's press on this subject.  Those in 
the West saw peaceful evolution as a fantasy -- something 
not real -- and it was worrisome when we observed people 
worrying about something that did not exist.  For example, 
there was something in the press about how a Vietnamese 
official described programs to bring Vietnamese students 
overseas as an attempt to "turn their minds" against the 
system.  Because we read Vietnam's press and respected it, 
we wondered how seriously the Vietnamese believed these 
things, the Ambassador said. 
 
10. (SBU) Dien replied that, as far as he knew, there was 
"nothing special" that had happened recently.  It was true, 
however, that there were concerns regarding peaceful 
evolution.  But, one had to understand peaceful evolution in 
the right way.  As Vietnam continued to move in the 
direction of a market economy, officials and party members 
would learn to love making money, and there was the danger 
that they would lose their "morals and credibility."  In the 
past, party members had sacrificed much for national 
independence and, as a result, had credibility with the 
people.  In the new situation of today, the party had to 
educate people how not to let themselves be "destroyed or 
devalued."  If that happened, officials and party members 
would lose the respect and credibility of the people.  In 
the first, peaceful evolution was referring to Vietnam and 
the Vietnamese themselves.  Vietnam had to emphasize the 
fight against decadence and the change in the quality of 
party members and officials.  Turning to the example the 
Ambassador raised, Vietnam encouraged students to study 
abroad, and Dien could not understand the origin of the 
criticism of study abroad programs. 
 
11. (SBU) Quoting Deng Xiaoping, the Ambassador said that, 
if one opened the window, flies and mosquitoes would come 
in.  Originally, President Nixon had used the phrase 
"peaceful evolution," saying it was not a government 
strategy or policy, but something that would just happen. 
Dien agreed with the Ambassador that now was a fascinating 
time to live in Vietnam as it transformed, and the 
Ambassador concluded by expressing his hope that the United 
States would continue to play a role in Vietnam's process of 
change. 
BURGHARDT